“Oh Shenandoah” is an old American folk song; Wikipedia puts it to at least the early 1800s. It can be interpreted as a man longing to see the Shenandoah River or Valley in western Virginia, or to amorously pursue the daughter of a Native American chief (I favor the first interpretation). Regardless, it’s a beautiful song that’s been recorded many times, but—to my mind—never better than here by Van Morrison. I also think it’s his best song, though others will undoubtedly bring up “Brown-Eyed Girl” or “Moondance”.
The haunting music is by the magnificent Chieftains.
p.s. You can hear Paul Robeson’s version here.
I spent this past weekend canoeing the Shenandoah River from Luray, Virginia to Front Royal with two friends. We saw several Bald Eagles, Ospreys, Herons, Carolina Wrens, etc. We camped on an island. It was a spectacular.
Excellent! Expect the water was really up, too.
Play that funky music, WEIT boy!
good one;-))
Lol.
As a lover of both this song and Irish folk music, I am intrigued that lots of Irish seem to think this is one of theirs and view it as a classic along with “She moved through the fair”, etc.
This is the second song posted here this week that was one of my top faves during my two years singing with the Aurora singers. And although nature photos in YouTube videos is a bit passe, that’s incredible shots of West Virginia.
Unfortunately, Van Morrison did not sing it when I saw him in concert 14 years ago. (He was on a triple bill with Lucinda Williams and Bob Dylan, so his time was limited I guess.)
Many thanks for the post.
One of the best renditions of this fine song is Bill Frissel’s instrummental with Ry Cooder. Just fantastic.
…also another Frisell version on his release “East West” which includes “Heard It Through the Grapevine”.
That was spectacular. I love Van Morrison…thanks for posting.
Just about all of Van the Man’s work is worth a listen, even the more religious stuff – if you can switch off to the lyrical content. A treat to see live too, despite his grumpy reputation, which actually adds a little intrigue as, every time he left the stage – always without so much as a by-your-leave, one is left wondering whether he would come back.
I’m almost embarrassed… I just did a quick count and have a total of 28 Van Morrison albums, from Angry Young Them in 1965 to Magic Time in 2005. I’d guess I have more VM in my fairly large collection than any other artist.
I was hooked when I was a teen and first heard Gloria, Mystic Eyes, and Baby Please Don’t Go. My all time favorite is probably Into the Mystic because I have an inordinate fondness for the saxophone. But I do have the Astral Weeks album on original vinyl, CD, and cassette, so there is that…
I also have all his music, both on Vinyl, a few on cassette, and all on CD. Do you have his latest one “Born to Sing:No Plan B”. It’s marvellous – little bit jazzy, but ALL Van the Man. Do have a listen to it, I bet you get it.
Best wishes, Leah
Wonderful! Thanks for the pictures and Van Morrison. That man makes my knees weak when he sings “Tupelo Honey.”
Agree with you on Tupelo Honey!
merilee – Glad you agree. An ex-boyfriend and I had two songs, “Tupelo Honey” and “Moondance”.
Both songs remind me of my youth (or youf, as Keif might say).
Both those versions are wonderful! It’s been far too long since I’ve heard Paul Robeson, and the Chieftains provide the perfect backup for Van Morrison’s vocals.
Although it’s more rough-hewn than the Morrison and Robeson versions, I find Bob Dylan’s version very moving.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMedIazub6c
It’s great to hear a timeless piece of music given new life by each artist who interprets it. I’d love to have a peak into the future to see what contemporary songs will stand the test of time.
No offense to the hip modernists, but I’ll take Robeson singing…well, almost anything, over 90%+ of living musicians. His is one of the definitive archetypal voices — and, “oh by the way,” his musical brilliance with that instrument is similarly equalled by few and surpassed by none.
If one is ever tempted to assemble a list of greatest musicians, that list would be incomplete without Robeson, and one could be well justified in making him the sole representative of basses.
b&
What? What about Nat King Cole??
Oh, he’s awesome, too. But he’s a baritone. There’re damned few true basses out there, and the truly great basses are extremely rare.
b&
I can think of three–Chaliapin, Pinza, Christoff. But that leaves out Jerome Hines, Giorgio Tozzi, Kipnis, etc., etc.,
I would add the Welsh bass Bryn Terfel to the list of active great basses!
Good call!
Yes!! (as long as he doesn’t wear the silly bangs over one eye which he wore in Rhinegold.)
Nat was pure velvet. A totally different sound from Robeson. Love them both!
U tube has many renditions. I enjoy the many choir offerings. Remind me of the splendid movie.
How about Jerry Garcia and David Grisman –
Came to the comments looking for this one. 🙂 Nice to know I’m not the only one for whom this is canonical.
I was going to mention that one myself.
Jerry died 18 years ago today. Hard to believe that it has been that long. August 1 would have been his 71st birthday.
Chanticleer’s version of Shenandoah:
http://goo.gl/AObA8
Actually, I was gong to say Into The Mystic.
Wow! Thank you for posting this. My mother used to sing us this song when we were little, sometimes, as a lullabye. Warm memories!!
Gotta recommend Tom Waits’ version (with Keith Richards) of “Shenandoah.”
If you’re a Waits fan and haven’t heard this, run don’t walk to Google it! If you’re not a Waits fan, well, this won’t convert you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJgWaqwZml4
Love it!! As one of the commentors put it: more gravel than a full quarry;-)
I vote for Sweet Thing as his best song, followed by Caravan.
Pretty much all of Astral Weeks’ll do it
Maybe this is heresy, but I’d rather be there than listen to it. And for music while there, Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mtn Boys, and/or the Carter Family.
“I also think it’s his best song, though others will undoubtedly bring up “Brown-Eyed Girl” or “Moondance”.”
UGH,,, if either of these two songs are considered Van’s best, then there are some seriously short-sighted music listeners.
May I suggest, Caravan, Into the Mystic, You Make Me Feel So Free, Have I Told You Lately?, Days Like This, Celtic New Year, Tore Down a la Rimbaud, etc, etc.
Really, if you haven’t listened to any of these songs, expand your horizon.
Van’s way too talented and his music too good to limit recognition to two very dusty songs.
Thanks for posting this! I grew up in the Shenandoah Valley (Harrisonburg). After far too many years, I got back there last week for my high school reunion. It really is as beautiful as those pictures, and Morrison’s voice is just perfect!
Love the place and the song, but not too fond of the “improvised” mannerisms. I’m old fashioned enough to prefer a fairly straight rendition without the embellishments that seem obligatory these days (think the “Star Spangled Banner” sung by some “celebrity” at your average ball game.
To see what I mean just above, google “star spangled banner,sporting event version”.
*Everybody* has done it. Harry Belafonte, Bruce Springsteen, Arlo Guthrie…
Possibly the most interesting one I found was a violin (no voice) by Celtic Woman (is that a person? a group? I’m ignorant, never mind, I never knew a solo violin could sound that rich)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64QHbB-11fc
Okay, after a bit more Youtube, it seems the violinist above was Maireadd Nesbitt, the fiddler for the group Celtic Woman. Who are apparently a well-known group that I would have heard of if I hadn’t completely stopped listening to popular music when rap ‘music’ came along and it all went toxic…
Oh and apparently she has worked with Van Morrison, though I can’t find any suggestion it was on his ‘Shenandoah’ track. Would’ve been a nice coincidence if she had.
I loathe Brown Eyed Girl. And being from Ireland, it makes it even worse as you can’t go to a pub with a dukebox, a cover band or a dj without hearing it played at least once throuout the night, and people never fail to start roaring it like they’ve never heard it in their lives! Idiots!
Sorry, that was a bit of a rant. But it bugs me and Jerry was right to mention it. If you’re in a conversation with someone about music and Van Morrison is mentioned, if they mention Brown Eyed Girl in anything but a sarcastic tone, then it’s time to move the conversation on. If you bring up Astral Weeks and you’re met with a blank stare, then the conversation is over I’m afraid
His best song is, hands down, “Into the Mystic”. “Brown-Eyed Girl” and “Moondance” are like his “Stairway to Heaven”: if I never feckin’ hear the song again I’ll die happy.
I love Into the Mystic as well! The bass at the start and the crescendo just before the bridge when he starts roaring “And I don’t have to fear it and IIIIIIIIIII want to rock your gypsy soul”. Brilliant!
I can deal with Moondance. It like the melody and the way he layers all the instruments on to pof each other. And it doesn’t have the vexing sing-a-long quality that Brown Eyed Girl does. Sure you know yourself 🙂
Agreed, Scott. After reading your first paragraph I got the chills just thinking about that part of the song.
Another good’n’ is “Don’t Look Back” which he sings with John Lee Hooker on the “Best of Friends” album. This was lovely, though, thanks Jerry!
Meh. It was okay. But, as predicted, I like Moondance better. Oh, Shenandoah is a pretty melancholy song. Probably appeals more to people who have some sort of attachment to the Shenandoah Valley. My melancholy attachment is to New Hampshire, so I’ll stick with Moondance.
You keep selecting my favorite folk songs. Shenandoah is a haunting beauty. My own recording of it, which I love, is from a very old LP of sea shanties sung by the Robert Shaw Chorale. I just transferred it to a CD. Do you know the album foolishly called Silly Sisters, in which June Tabor and Maddy Prior sing gorgeous, mostly folk stuff, one of which is called The Grey Funnel Line. I guess you could call it a sea shanty but it’s sad and solemn and so beautiful you might swoon while listening.